Native Tongue Poem by Itsoghole O Solomon

I speak native tongue
From the lees heart of
The keg and palm tree
In the kukuruku forest
To be suffuse with
The spirit of Anwu.

Dum dum gbidi gbom
Basks my body in
Drum beats of Egungun
In the black tropical grove.
Talking drum that
Speak words from my mind
With the pulse of Orishe.

I eat only dry meat
That fills the mouth.
Give me oil and salt
To consume my cocoyam,
I shall offer you kolanut
And welcome you
Within the hut of Ndiichie.

I speak native tongue,
The true voice
Of nature imitated by
Amana isôn eyen.
The Tongue of homecoming
And the bond of ancestry!